David and Jonathan

Jonathan, the King's son, was kind. He was a good friend to David. They make a promise to
each other that whatever happened, they would always be friends

David wanted to leave the palace. He was afraid King Saul would kill him. But Jonathan did not
want him to go. "My father will not hurt you," he said. "He always tells me what he wants to do."

But David was still afraid. He knew that he was in real danger. King Saul began to hate David.
He told Jonathan to kill him. But Jonathan loved David and so he made a plan. "In a field not
far from here, there is a great stone," said Jonathan. "Go and hide behind it. In three days, I will
come with my servant and shoot three arrows by its side. If I say to my servant, 'Go and find the
arrows, they are on this side of you, bring them here,' then you will know that it is safe and there
is no danger. But if I say to the boy, 'Look the arrows are beyond you,' then you must run away
for there is great danger."

So David hid in the field. Jonathan went to King Saul. He begged him not to kill David. King
Saul did not listen. He became very angry. He threw his sword at Jonathan, but it missed him.

Jonathan ran from the palace, calling his servant. He went to the field near the great stone. Soon
his arrows flew through the air.
"Find the arrows," called Jonathan. "They are beyond you!"

David heard and he was very sad. The servant found the arrows. Jonathan sent him home.
Then David came out of his hiding place. He put his arms around Jonathan.
Jonathan told David of his father's plans to kill him and urged him to go far away where he
would be safe. He asked David to remember that they would always be friends.

David ran away. He found a cave near the desert, where he lived for a long time.

We learn a lesson in friendship from the story of David and Jonathan. They were loyal friends throughout their lives. Are you a true friend? Do you take up for your friend if someone starts saying bad things about him or her? Do you come to their defense? You would want your friend to do the same for you.

2009-02-16
The Bible says that David tells Jonathan about his plan to hide in the
field. Not Jonathan is the one telling him to hide. It's David's
plan.

Webmaster's note: See 1 Samuel 20:19-23
Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the New Moon;
and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. And when you have
stayed three
days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the
deed; and remain
by the stone Ezel. Then I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I
shot at a target;
and there I will send a lad, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I expressly
say to the lad,
'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them and come' then, as the
LORD lives, there
is safety for you and no harm. But if I say thus to the young man, 'Look,
the arrows are
beyond you' go your way, for the LORD has sent you away. And as for the
matter which you and
I have spoken of, indeed the LORD be between you and me forever.